What's your best idea to create jobs?

Last session I authored and passed AB202 that provides incentives for manufacturing businesses to move to Nevada or Nevada manufacturers to expand their business. It's been a successful bill showing very positive results. I am taking the next step and working, along with others, on a bill draft to provide new or expanding manufacturing businesses energy cost savings. Energy is the second highest expense behind personnel and so the idea is help offset start up costs and to provide the economic development folks a convincing tool when working with manufacturers looking at Nevada for their new home.

What's your best idea to improve Nevada's education system?

I have many ideas and, in fact, have been visiting with education leadership here and in Clark County on a 13-point education plan I have been working on during the interim. Chief among them is my support for a statewide longitudinal database system. Good decisions must be based on uniform, sound data. Second on my list is support for early childhood education and especially kindergarten.

Would you consider a tax increase if you felt it was really necessary?

Difficult question. The short answer is, "It depends." It is a simple question to a complex issue. Generally speaking, I think tax increases have serious consequences especially as we dig our way out of the state's economic woes. Nonetheless, I am open-minded, but it will take serious persuasion and much consideration to reach the "really necessary" benchmark.

With the U.S. Supreme Court validating the Affordable Health Care Act, how should Nevada best implement it?

The key element for the Nevada Legislature is what to do with Medicaid. The law makes the moral argument that government should cover all uninsured. The practical matter says the unfunded liability is colossal not just for possible new Medicaid recipients but for what the bill already mandates. I believe the responsible approach is to consider all the consequences, the costs, the savings, listen to experts and then come to a path that is best for the people of Nevada.